c6331

Child's name: Cheylynn "Erin"
Number: C6331
Birthdate: 9/95
State: Idaho
Listed: 8/06, Updated 9/08

Photographs by Digital Arts Photography

Idaho Wednesday's Child/SNAPS profile for Cheylynn

If you have completed an adoption homestudy and would like to have your information forwarded to this child's worker, contact us.

Talented and very bright, CHEYLYNN (9/95), who likes to be called Erin, needs intellectual and artistic opportunities at home and in school. She also needs a great deal of emotional, behavioral, and social supports. This 13-year old enjoys being involved in the arts and has talents and abilities that should be developed (she has a good singing voice and drawing skills). Music, dancing, singing, and drawing are all areas through which she expresses herself. Sometimes Erin needs to be redirected in how, when, and where she chooses to "showcase" her talents. She tends to seek the spotlight. Erin has been described in the past by one of her foster parents as "loving, adorable, and charming."

Erin, who came into foster care in late 2000, became legally free for adoption in early 2004. Her special needs are likely due to different environmental and biological factors.

During the early months of 2006, Erin spent twelve months in a residential facility. She participated in individual mental health therapy, small group interactions with peers and child care staff, mentoring, and medication therapy. She responded well to the token economy system and a sticker chart, which were just a couple of the ways she received positive reinforcement for following general rules and expectations. The mentor assigned helped her to get to know herself better, increase her social skills, build her character, and develop her interests.

Erin achieved "tremendous gains and emotional growth" as stated in her progress report. Erin was very responsive to the positive reinforcement, medication therapy, individual and group therapy as well as the many positive people surrounding her while in a residential facility.

Erin is now with a therapeutic foster family who are helping to further prepare her for adoption.

Erin's social worker is looking for family who have significant past experience working with children who have behavioral special needs, such as parenting, teaching, counseling, coaching, etc. Having adoptive parents who care enough to take the time to learn about Erin's past experiences and her very deep fear of further abandonment will be keys to her success. It would be an act of love and acceptance for her new family to not only be highly supportive of her continued mental health therapy and medication treatment, but also to be willing to participate with her in family therapy, especially during her transition into their home. Encouraging Erin's interest in art and drawing could provide her with addition therapeutic tools as she puts the past behind her and embraces a new beginning. Are there going to be challenges? You bet! Are there going to be rewards? More than you could ever imagine.

Subsidy and Purchase of Service may be available.

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